Various programmes were held in conjunction with the trip, including a visit to the National Hydrography Centre, a lecture on counter-piracy operations by a Turkish officer, a friendly football match and a reception on board the ship attended by, among others, 30 high-ranking officers from the Malaysian navy and ambassadors of various countries.

Nedunchelian says he officially resigned from PKR in January but S Manikavsagam says he is still listed as a member.

PETALING JAYA: The first Barisan Rakyat Independent Candidate (BRIC) to announce his candidacy ahead of the 13th general election, Dr Nedunchelian Vengu, has discovered that he is still a PKR member despite officially resigning from the party in January.

Nedunchelian, 43, a dentist, announced last Friday that he will run in Kapar for the next general election. But incumbent, S Manikavasagam, queried Nedunchelian's standing under an independent ticket while he holds a PKR membership.

"I checked the membership database and he is still a life member," Manikavasagam told FMT. "He joined in 2009 and his membership number is B18002745."

"Nedunchelian was also appointed by the Selangor government as an Indian community leader in Sungai Pinang and I personally endorsed his application. So I was shocked to hear of his annoucement as an independent when he is still holding a Pakatan Rakyat-appointed post."

Manikavasagam added that he had raised the matter with PKR vice-president, N Surendran, and hinted that the party could take disciplinary action against Nedunchelian.

He, however, said that he bore no malice towards Nedunchelian's bid for the Kapar seat nor was this a personal attack against him.

"Nedunchelian is a good, close friend of mine and I wish him all the best," he said. "Besides, I don't even know if I will be re-contesting the seat. It all depends on the party."

"The seat doesn't belong to me and anyone has a right to run for it whether they are from PKR or not. I'm just concerned over the conflict between Nedunchelian's candidacy as an independent and his PKR membership."

'I resigned in January'

Meanwhile, Nedunchelian confirmed that he resigned from PKR on Jan 3 but added that he has still not received any official acknowledgement of his resignation from the party.

Nedunchelian had openly disclosed his post as Indian community leader in Sungai Pinang during a press conference last week, but told FMT that he is considering stepping down from that post, too.

"I was appointed by the Klang district office and not by PKR," he said. "I don't understand what the party has to do with a state government appointment."

The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) president, Haris Ibrahim, affirmed that Nedunchelian had resigned from PKR even before he was unveiled as an MCLM-backed candidate in January.

"When he first broached the matter of standing as an independent, he also told me of his PKR membership and we both agreed that it was only right for him to relinquish that position first," Haris said.

Surendran told FMT that he was not privy to the facts but agreed that it could be a matter of simply updating the membership database.

"There is no reason to doubt Nedunchelian's word," he said. "But the best person to answer the question of whether his letter has been received and if his name is still in the database is the PKR secretary-general, Saifuddin Naustion."

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